Ready for romance, comedy, and mayhem? The Virginia Shakespeare Festival
will kick off its 35th season June 20 with William Shakespeare's comic
masterpiece, "Midsummer Night's Dream" followed by "The Tragedy of
Richard III" and Henry James' classic thriller "The Turn of the Screw."

The Festival continues a long history of Shakespeare in Williamsburg. In
fact, Williamsburg was the first place that Shakespeare's plays were
professionally presented in the New World. It all started in 1753, when
the Hallam troupe of London arrived to present The Merchant of Venice
here (making this year's production an ironic choice!).

In honor
of this dramatic past, the College of William and Mary created the
Festival, which presents two or more of the Bard's plays each summer.
All performances are held in Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall on the William
and Mary campus. To access a Google map of the hall, click here.

Here's the current schedule:

"Midsummer Night's Dream"June 20-

William
Shakespeare's most produced comedy, this fanciful story of love and
magic has thrilled audiences since the 16th century. Summed up in the
play's most famous line - "Lord, what fools these mortals be," - it's a
delightful play for the whole family.

"The Tragedy of Richard III"July 11-21

This
tragedy of the strange and possibly misjudged life of King Richard III
details the hunchbacked and murderous monarch comes at a perfect time--
just months after his body was found and identified under a parking lot
in Britain. Does Richard deserve his poor reputation? Or was his
misjudged?

"The Turn of the Screw"July 31-Aug. 4

Henry
James' novella-turned-play has thrilled and perplexed audiences for
decades. Is it a ghost story? Or a twisted example of madness? Only
James will ever know for sure, but the twists and turns of this classic
play will keep you debating for days or weeks.

Virginia Shakespeare Festival Tickets

Good news! Ticket prices have actually stayed the same as last year (good to know something hasn't gone up!). Subscriptions are $40 for both plays. Single tickets are $27.50 for adults and $15 for students, and $10 for children. The group rate (for 20 or more pre-paid tickets) is 20% off.

You can reserve tickets by phone, or through their website - http://www.wm.edu/as/vsf/.

They also offer summer camps for students ages 9-17. Students will study Shakespeare's language, the choreography of stage combat, and period costuming. Camps last one week and finish with an abridged version of a comedy. The cost is $225 per camper.

Camps quickly sell out, but even when they do, they take names on a waiting list, so it might be worth a try! For details, call 757-221-2683.

Beyond the Virginia Shakespeare Festival-- Here's a Shakespeare Center Where They "Do It With the Lights On"

If you love Shakespeare, the Blackfriars Playhouse, home of the American
Shakespeare Center, is our personal favorite place to see the Bard's
plays.

To whet your appetite, here's an excerpt from our Blackfriars page:

"Think
you’ve seen enough Shakespeare already? Not ‘til you’ve seen it played
in the original language by actors wearing everything from go-go boots
and fish costumes, to Panama hats and Hawaiian shirts."

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